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Medicaid Overhaul Proves to be Politically Perilous Proposition

In their quest to pay for President Donald Trump’s policy priorities, Republicans are eyeing Medicaid, the largest health insurance program for more than 70 million low-income Americans, as a program ripe for cuts. But they face obstacles that could block any sort of overhaul to the nearly 60-year-old joint state and federal program. Among those obstacles: public opinion, members of their own party in competitive districts, governors who worry about impacts to their state budgets, a closely divided Senate, and maybe one of the most formidable: hospitals and health care providers that carry significant influence in Washington. While House Republicans and some governors are coalescing around “work requirements” in Medicaid as a way to save money, more significant cuts — and more politically perilous ones — remain on the table. One of the most impactful policies would be reducing how much the federal government spends to cover the Medicaid expansion population. And several states have already indicated they will pursue work requirements, including Ohio, Arkansas and South Carolina.

 

Implementation Fact Sheet - Three Key Steps to Implement the Requirements of 2024 Part 2 Final Rule

On February 16, 2024, HHS released a Final Rule updating 42 CFR Part 2, the federal regulations governing the confidentiality of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment records. The Final Rule implemented changes required by Congress in the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to align certain aspects of 42 CFR Part 2 with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. This Fact Sheet is intended to assist Part 2 programs in complying with the requirements of the Final Rule by describing in detail 3 key steps that programs can take to support implementation.

 

Your Exclusive Look at NatCon25 - Register Now & Save

Get Ready for NatCon25!

NatCon25 is more than just a forum for the most influential voices in our field— it’s your opportunity to invest in yourself, your organization, and your community! Join us and more than 6,000 health care professionals in Philadelphia from May 5-7, 2025,  for the largest conference in mental health and substance use treatment! 

Renowned for its sought-after speakers and best-in-class curriculum, NatCon25 offers three days of learning, networking and access to experts. Register today to:

  • Engage with thousands of colleagues from across the country.
  • Hear from hundreds of thought leaders in health care and beyond.
  • Participate in dozens of diverse, immersive and peer-led workshops.
  • Access hundreds of hours of premium content on trending topics.
  • Earn continuing education (CE) and continuing medical education (CME) credits.
  • Discover new technologies and tools to increase your impact.
  • Contribute to conversations about the future of our field.

2025 Agenda & Early Bird Registration

  • The wait is over—the 2025 agenda is LIVE! Dive into 250+ game-changing sessions and hear from 500+ powerhouse speakers shaping the future of mental health and substance use treatment.
  • Lock in your spot now! Early bird registration ends March 10—this is your final chance to save $200 on the premier event of the year!

Spotlights:

  • Hundreds of influential speakers. Game-changing curriculum. Peer-led presentations. Industry-advancing discussions. New and immersive activities. Best-in-class products. Only at NatCon!
  • Connect with 6,000+ colleagues from across the country, share experiences and leave with proven strategies for boosting your service delivery.
  • Hear from 500+ presenters representing all facets of health care — from policy influencers and medical directors to social workers, researchers, CEOs and clinicians.
  • Choose from hundreds of solutions-driven sessions on topics like crisis response, rural health care, suicide prevention, youth substance use treatment and AI in health care.
  • Engage 200+ exhibitors offering tools, services and technologies to help you get more out of your mental health and substance use treatment.
  • Earn national and state-specific continuing education and continuing medical education credits by taking advantage of our diverse curriculum throughout the event.
 

Child Tax Credits, Tax Increases, Full School Funding: DeWine Unveils $61B Budget Proposal

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine kicked off the state’s biannual budget process Monday, February 3rd with a proposed 2026-2027 operating budget package that would cost the state $61 billion, about $25 billion less than the two-year operating budget the state currently uses.

DeWine’s proposal would, among other things:

  • Give Ohio families a $1,000 tax credit per child funded by a $1.50 cigarette tax increase;
  • Increase sports gambling taxes from 20% to 40% and further direct the new revenue into a fund for major and minor league teams to improve or fully replace their stadiums and for the state to offset sports costs for Ohio youth;
  • Increase recreational cannabis sales tax from 10% to 20% and modify the distribution of such funds;
  • Maintain Medicaid provider rate increases established in the previous budget;
  • Further tie state funding of public universities to graduates’ career placements;
  • Focus on continued development of Ohio’s workforce;
  • Continue Ohio’s universal school choice voucher system and implement the state’s third and final round of its state school funding formula.

The state’s share of this budget has long been expected to be less than the 2024-2025 operating budget, which was buoyed by billions in federal COVID-19 and pandemic recovery spending. Those offsets allowed lawmakers to create a $700 million special projects fund, slash the state’s income and business taxes, create a bigger-than-ever tax holiday, and expand the private school voucher system to a near-billion-dollar yearly venture.  This current budget process will be a return to the regular order of traditional budgeting – without the influx of great amounts of federal resources.

Executive agencies will review their budget proposals in Ohio House Committees starting this week with a hope to send it along to the Ohio Senate in early to mid-April.  The two-year budget is expected to be enacted prior to July 1, 2025.

 

Ohio Loan Repayment Program Application Cycle: February 1 - February 28, 2025

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH), Primary Care Office (PCO) is preparing to open their 2025 Ohio Loan Repayment Program Application Cycle, which will run from February 1, 2025 – February 28, 2025. The application will be available on ODH-PCO’s website beginning February 1st.

The following programs will be accepting applications:

  • Ohio Physician Loan Repayment Program
  • Ohio Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program
  • Ohio Dentist Loan Repayment Program
  • Ohio Dental Hygienist Loan Repayment Program
  • Ohio Substance Use Disorder Professional Loan Repayment Program

PDF applications will be available on our program webpage during the applications cycle. Any questions regarding applications can be directed to [email protected]; Please include the nature of your request and the program for which you are applying.

 
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